The LA Times has an article about Doors' drummer John Densmore's refusal to allow Doors' songs to be used in TV commercials.
"People lost their virginity to this music, got high for the first time to this music," Densmore said. "I've had people say kids died in Vietnam listening to this music, other people say they know someone who didn't commit suicide because of this music…. On stage, when we played these songs, they felt mysterious and magic. That's not for rent."
When Cadillac offered $15 million for the rights to use "Break On Through," the surviving members of the band wanted the money, but Densmore held out.
"Everyone wanted him to do it," said John Branca, an attorney who worked on the Cadillac proposal. "I told him that, really, people don't frown on this anymore. It's considered a branding exercise for the music. He told me he just couldn't sell a song to a company that was polluting the world.
WTF is a "branding exercise?"
Reader comment: Stephanie says: "John Densmore wrote an article for The Nation approximately three years ago explaining why he refused to allow The Doors' music to be used in commercials.
If I learned anything from Jim, it's respect for what we created. I have to pass. Thank God, back in 1965 Jim said we should split everything, and everyone has eto power. Of course, every time I pass, they double the offer!"
"I'm actually glad to see that he hasn't changed his position." Link
